House committee hearings no longer will be catered affairs.
Missouri House Speaker John Diehl, R-Town and Country, has banned dining during committee hearings in the state Capitol, as well as holding hearings at dining establishments, including the local country club.
Although there has been no official change in House rules, the speaker anticipates - and likely will get - compliance.
Nothing is wrong with this change, although it will make more of a difference in appearance than reality.
The speaker based his reasoning on decorum, linking committee hearings to the same standards as floor debate.
The ban marks a departure from the long-standing practice of lobbyists supplying food to lawmakers during hearings held at mealtimes.
We agree with the observation by Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, that the catered meals are unlikely to change a committee member's vote. Most representatives care more about the food than the provider, Barnes said, and they often don't know who bought the meals given to them.
Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, said the meals are a convenience when lawmakers' schedules don't allow a break.
Meals at hearings, however, do interfere with decorum and perception.
Barnes characterized the meals as "a little awkward ... seeing members eat lunch in front of a room of witnesses and members of the public."
The meals also might seem inappropriate to witnesses, particularly when an opponent, for example, testifies at a hearing where proponents provided the meal.
And, of course, there is a public perception of "wining and dining" lawmakers to gain favor. Rep. Jacob Hummel, D-St. Louis, said: "I think it is a good idea from a public policy standpoint."
The ban on dining at House hearings is aimed primarily at appearance. In government, however, any appearance of impropriety is worth removing.